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Friday, March 16, 2012

Supreme Court Refuses to Televise ObamaCare Case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court rejected requests from news organizations Friday for live, televised coverage of this month's historic arguments on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul but agreed to release audio recordings of the proceedings on the same day.

The court will post audio files and transcripts on its website (http://www.supremecourt.gov) within two hours of the end of the proceedings on each of the three days set aside for argument, March 26-28.

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.

The justices have never allowed cameras inside the courtroom and decided not to make an exception for the health care case despite what the court called "extraordinary public interest."

A statement issued by the court's public information office and a letter from Chief Justice John Roberts to C-SPAN did not say anything about cameras or live coverage, even though many news organizations, including The Associated Press, and several members of Congress had asked the court to permit cameras into the courtroom to cover the proceedings.

We appreciate that the Supreme Court has taken steps to expedite the release of audio recordings of the oral arguments in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act cases on March 26, 27, and 28. C-SPAN will provide same-day airing of these arguments on C-SPAN3, C-SPAN Radio and C-SPAN.org as soon as they are released. At the same time, we are disappointed that the Court has rejected C-SPAN’s request for TV camera coverage of the oral arguments in this landmark case. We continue to believe allowing video coverage of Supreme Court oral arguments is in the public’s best interest.